Brendan Rodgers critical of Liverpool’s Sadio Mane for going down too easily

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Brendan Rodgers returned to Liverpool for the first time on Saturday, but his Leicester City side left empty-handed after a controversial end to the game.

Brendan Rodgers has slated the ‘clever’ Sadio Mane for winning a ‘very soft’ penalty during Leicester City’s 2-1 defeat at Liverpool on Saturday.

In stoppage time, Mane was awarded a penalty after the referee adjudged that his ankles were clipped by Marc Albrighton, with Rodgers adamant that the decision was ‘very soft’.

The penalty didn’t sit well with the Leicester players, but in and amongst the chaos, James Milner kept his cool and slotted away the penalty.

After the game, Rodgers was clearly left unimpressed with the awarding of the penalty, as he stated that modern-day strikers are going down too easily.

“I thought it was a very soft penalty,” Rodgers told Bein Sports. “I didn’t think it was a clear and obvious penalty, that’s for sure. But when the referee gives it, it’s probably hard for the VAR to go against it. It was disappointing.

“I think he has made the most of the contact. We’re in control of the situation.

“Strikers now, modern strikers, they are clever. He has had a touch and gone over. If the referee didn’t give it, I don’t think anyone would have said it was a clear and obvious error. Unfortunately, it went against us.”

There was a mini melee after the game as tempers flared after the final whistle, with Rodgers side clearly annoyed that they were robbed of a point.

There were some who were tipping the Foxes to get something from Anfield given their recent form and when James Maddison scored late in the second half, the away fans would have felt that they deserved what was looking like a point.

But the Reds pressed for a winner before the Mane incident occurred as Liverpool maintained their 100% to the new season.

It means that their lead at the top of the Premier League table is eight points, but Manchester City can reduce that once again on Sunday when they take on Wolves.